This conventional method was contributed by Mr. Leonard Dight of the United Kingdom, which he has incorporated into the Acol bidding system. The short description was received on October 23, 2000, and is presented without change.

As Presented by Mr. Leonard Dight

There are two new conventions which have been passed by the E.B.U. (English Bridge Union) and becoming widely known. The English Acol system, of course, does not make use of the 3 Major raise as forcing after a 1 of a Major opening.

This has left a niche in the market for descriptive replies to 1 of a Major opening with trump support. The Dight 2 No Trump in reply to 1 of a Major opening is the first to differentiate between a singleton and a void whilst being able to prefer the Delayed Game Response, if the hand holds a strong suit as well as the singleton or void.

It works as follow:

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 /		2 NT		1. Shows trump support 2. Shows a minimum of 10 high card points 3. Shows a singleton or a void
3				Puppet
		3		Singleton in Diamonds
		3 of other Major		Shows a singleton
		4		Singleton in Clubs
		3 NT		A Pudding Raise 1. shows 13 to 15 support points 2. shows 4-3-3-3 distribution 3. shows only a 3-card support for opener's Major suit

The spotlight is still on responding hands with an excess of power over and above its point count value, so with an excess of Aces and the trump King and 13 to 15 points (includes distribution) the new Zig-Zag Swiss (which now can ignore singletons and voids) can go to town using the little used bids in the ordinary sense, i.e.:

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 /(1 )		3 /(3 NT)		Shows a 3-card trump support, including the Ace or King of trump.
		3 NT/(4 )		Shows a 4-card trump support, including the Ace or King of trump.
		4 /(4 )		Shows a 5-card trump support, including the Ace or King of trump.
		4 /(4 )		Shows a 5-card trump support, including the Ace or King of trump.

After these replies the opener can use the 1st step to enquire for: 2 Aces, 2 Aces and King of trump, or 3 Aces. These two conventions take their place in the hierarchy of Acol replies to 1 of a Major opening without usurping any Acol traditional bid as the Dight 2 NT can be converted to 10/11 points if called on responder's second round.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.